Why hasn't the U.N. reached out to Sandhya Eknelygoda?

On February 18, we
noted that the United Nations in New York finally said it received a letter
from Sandhya Eknelygoda,
the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknelygoda. Sandhya had given the letter to
the U.N. representative in Colombo, Neil Buhne, on January 24, the first anniversary
of her husband's disappearance. It was also channeled to the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

Nesirky said at the time that the "letter is now being
reviewed. We've asked for an update on this, and will let you know when we have
it. The disappearance of any journalist anywhere is, of course, a matter of
concern, and not just to the secretary-general."

Friends in Colombo were glad to hear the news, but also
warned that Buhne is in the process of rotating out of Colombo, and they have
not heard whether a replacement has been named. So it's not too much to ask if
an update has been delivered to the United Nations in New York. Just in case
they need one, here it is: No, Sandhya Eknelygoda has learned nothing more of
her husband's fate.

So far, no one from the U.N. has reached out to Sandhya, or
even told her that her letter had made it to New York--she learned of it from
CPJ. She has been working tirelessly on her husband's behalf, and the delay of
almost a month from her handing it over to Buhne in Colombo
and the U.N. acknowledging that it has received it in New York borders on the unconscionable. For
the leadership of the United Nations to say that they are waiting for more
information is just more of the same obfuscation.

If the U.N. needs more clarification they can easily reach
Sandhya Eknelygoda--she included all her contact information in her letter to
them.

Bob Dietz, coordinator of CPJ’s Asia Program, has reported across the continent for news outlets such as CNN and Asiaweek. He has led numerous CPJ missions, including ones to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Follow him on Twitter @cpjasia and Facebook @ CPJ Asia Desk.